Toronto Council Debates the Future of Finance while Chow Urges Support for Refugee Shelters

By the end of the year, half of Toronto’s homeless shelter population could consist of refugee claimants, as stated in a new staff report. This desperate situation has prompted Mayor Olivia Chow to call for immediate support from the federal government. She emphasized the city’s growing budget shortfall of $1.5 billion, leaving them without the necessary financial resources to aid claimants. The report presented to city councillors revealed that the number of refugee claimants has dramatically risen to 3,300 people and could reach 4,500 by year-end, occupying half of the city’s shelter capacity.

The city’s shelter system is already stretched to its limits, with over 200 people unable to find shelter on an average summer night. Chow expressed concern over the impending winter and the possibility of claimants being left on the streets due to the lack of support from the federal government. She urged the government to fulfill its responsibility and provide the necessary assistance.

Additionally, the report highlights that there are 1,200 claimants receiving support from sources outside the shelter system, such as Black-led churches and community organizations. The situation is dire, with Mayor Chow describing it as desperate.

To tackle this crisis, the report recommends that council asks the federal government for $200 million in funding, which includes the $97 million already pledged earlier this year. Council has also allocated $750,000 to compensate the churches and community organizations assisting with sheltering refugees. However, they have set a deadline of September 18 for the federal government to respond and cover these costs.

While the federal government has previously argued that housing for asylum seekers is a provincial and municipal responsibility, it acknowledges the urgent situation and the need for collective efforts. The report on the refugee shelter issue was presented alongside a major financial outlook report, which outlines the challenges faced by Toronto in the long term.

City manager Paul Johnson’s updated long-term financial plan projects a combined budget pressure of $46.5 billion over the next decade. The report suggests various measures to address this, including a progressive surtax on the sale of expensive homes and lifting the $5-per-hour cap for on-street parking meters. Other options, such as a commercial parking levy and a Toronto-specific municipal sales tax, are being explored by city staff.

— With files from Tyler Griffin

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Anger growing over lacking government support for Toronto refugees